Jewish Scene
Beit Shemesh warned over haredi-only classrooms
Yaheli Moran Zelikovich
Published: 24.02.10, 14:30
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1. What they learn in a Haredi School (Leviticus)
Ariel ,   São Paulo - Brazil   (02.24.10)
Laura Schlessinger is a US radio personality who dispenses advice to people who call in to her radio show. Recently, she said that as an observant Orthodox Jew, she holds that homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22 and cannot be condoned in any circumstance. The following is an open letter to Dr. Laura penned by a US resident, which was posted on the Internet. Dear Dr. Laura: Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the specific laws and how to follow them. a) When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odour for the Lord (Lev. 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odour is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them? b) I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her? c) I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev. 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense. d) Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians? e) I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself? f) A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination (Lev. 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? g) Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here? h) Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev.19:27. How should they die? i) I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves? j) My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? (Lev. 24:10-16) Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14) I do look forward to your enlightenment regarding the questions that puzzle me. Then I shall pass them along to others who may appreciate your moral leadership. Sincerely.
2. religous in RBS
michael ,   rbs   (02.24.10)
I am "Chardal" the issue with this neighborhood is that the mayor and the Israelie Chariedi run this area.. the irya is extremely 1 sided and corrupt... that a new area can be built (ramat shilo) without a shul is strictly bec its chardal area and didnt vote for abutbal--- abutbul should be thrown out and we should get a mayor who is mayor of all the people - religous, chariedi,chardal, secular.... having a mayor who caters to one group is wrong
3. #1
shadoil ,   Jerusalem   (02.24.10)
This is typical secular "lets show how backwards religion is" drivel. Out of context and of course out of line with any real talmudic level headed thinking, you attempt , by way of basic knowledge and VERY common logic to deligitimize. Try finding a newer approach or better yet learn in depth these passages with all of their explanations and then after you reach 4th grade give us a call.
4. To # 3 reinterpretation
Ariel ,   São Paulo - Brazil   (02.24.10)
All that's there is literally written in the Torah. Why do some items are interpreted literally and others not? Because rabbis at different times reinterpret the texts in order to be socially accepted. (Nobody today will go stone someone he wears wool and linen mixed, and anyone who tries it will be put in jail thanks to a secular constitution) .
5. #1-3
shadoil ,   Jerusalem   (02.24.10)
The idea of oral law is one of faith and faith only. Faith cannot be argued. Either one has faith or doesnt. So the fact that the secular society which is non faith based, tries to pass judgments onto a society which is faith based and visa versa is just not on. And the reason ordinances of the Torah are not inforced to the letter of the law by rabbinical authority is not because secular logic and laws are of a more modern framework and therefore more logical ( which they are not, there are many ridiculous laws throughout the world based on secular assumptions) its because of the lack of full Jewish rule in the Land of Isarel.
6. To # 3
Ariel ,   São Paulo - Brazil   (02.24.10)
as you said, faith is the foundation of all religion. When you try to impose that faith as the Orthodox are trying to do today in Israel, takes place this type of conflict. If every religious faith kept to himself, and not try to impose - it to others, each one could live with his level of faith without bothering
7. Ariel, please get some jewish education...
Ezra ,   Canada   (02.24.10)
...and stop posting nonsense.
8. Why do they object to only Haredi classrooms?
Israeli 2   (02.25.10)
9. Completely Inaccurate
Akiva ,   Beit Shemesh, Israel   (02.25.10)
Ramat Beit Shemesh Alef and Bet, which has tripled the size of Beit Shemesh, has a shortage of classrooms. New neighborhoods are being built faster than schools and city infrastructure. A secular school was given a large building in anticipation of growth of students in that sector. But rather than the mix of population written on the building tenders, Chardal and Charedi bought out the area. So the school is 1/2 empty while the Chardal school next to it is completely full and in need of trailers, and the charedi school at the end of the street is having classes in the hallway. Because it's a secular school, they refuse to release the building and swap for a smaller one fitting the size of their student body (the Chardal and Charedi schools are swapping buildings every year to fit their changing sizes), and now they refuse to release space for use by another school??? Special rights for the secular? No need to accommodate a change in the population between the plan and the reality because they're "secular"? I don't think so. http://mpaths.com
10. #8 my guess is that the Haredim as usual will start making..
Dorothy Friend ,   Tel Aviv   (02.25.10)
...demands. The secular girls won't be allowed to dress as they if they are living in the 21st century, no pictures of women and men together will be allowed anywhere, that most alluring of all women's parts, the elbows, will have to covered. Lunch bags will be checked to see if products have badatz kosher, oh, the usual.
11. To #7
Ariel ,   São Paulo - Brazil   (02.25.10)
It's easy to call all which we disagree nonsense More difficult is to understand viewpoints different from ours. By the way , I had an Orthodox Zionist education throughout my life, I lived two years in a kibbutz in Israel from Bnei Akiva, I attend Orthodox synagogues, and my children are studying in an Orthodox Zionist school. Remember the worst blind is that one refuses to see
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